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The Capitals and Penguins met for the first time in 2018 since the Caps exorcised those pesky demons way back when in Game Six of the second round. This time though the Penguins came out on top as the Caps could not tally seven goals in consecutive nights, falling 7-6 in overtime.

The Pens out-shot the Caps 41 to 36 and out-attempted them at five-on-five 59 to 45.

Everyone talks about a Cup winning hangover, but what about a 7-0 banner raising, home opener shellacking hangover in a back-to-back? The Caps would look to keep proving that neither exist as they traveled to Pittsburgh to face off against their heated rivals, the Penguins.

Almost everyone in the world scored a goal in the first period. Jamie Oleksiak broke through first, Jakub Vrana responded, vaunted sniper Brooks Orpik followed him, Jake Guentzel tied things back up, and then Alex Ovechkin put the good guys in front heading into the break. Now, breathe.

Kris Letang would quickly open scoring up in the second, but John Carlson once again put the Caps ahead with a laser to the top shelf. Patric Hornqvist and Derick Brassard tallied in succession to give the Pens their first lead since opening the game 1-0. Evgeni Malkin added a power play marker and then made a great pass leading to TJ Oshie’s late goal. TJ would tally again soon after to tie things up.

Washington fans may be clamoring for Wilson. But they probably didn’t know that Tom Hanks, the man who inspired that rallying cry after naming his volleyball “Wilson,” was in Pittsburgh’s building Thursday.

As far as I am concerned, last night looked pretty dang easy for the Washington Capitals. It should be simple for them to replicate last night’s performance again for the rest of the season, but especially tonight when they travel to Pittsburgh to play the Penguins.

I always had an anxious knot in my stomach when we played Pittsburgh. Maybe it was just a hope-esque feeling of wanting the Capitals to do well enough to prove themselves or something. Anyway, it’s now gone because I don’t care about them. I don’t even know who the Pittsburgh Penguins are anymore.